Isabela and Fernandina Islands
What a fantastic day, so amazing that I am exhausted of the many sightings, wonderful weather and snorkeling experience. Early in the morning, while we circumnavigated Roca Redonda, we encountered a flock of sea birds feeding, due to the rich up-welling in this area; you could tell we were on the western side of the Archipelago where anything can happen. Later on, before crossing the Equator line, we spotted a sperm whale. Then we enjoyed the view of Ecuador Volcano and right afterwards, while we explored the area by Zodiac, we found a large pod of Melon-headed Whales. The whales came back later in the morning, at about the time our snorkelers were getting ready to jump in. But they were fast, and elusive, a behaviour that characterises this species. This was quite a rare sighting. They were in a group of more than a hundred. We could clearly see the absence of a beak and a profile of the top of a head smoothly curved downward, and their very dark skin.
During lunch time, while we were weighing anchor to reposition the Polaris toward Fernandina, a small pod of Orcas showed up. It was one sighting after the other! Orcas were feeding in the area, probably taking Mola mola, as there were dozens of them everywhere we looked. Frigate birds, storm petrels, shearwaters, took advantage of the left overs and flew above the Orcas, so they made it easier to follow the whales from the ship.
Fernandina was outstanding, with cormorants, penguins, sea lions and dozens of marine iguanas all over, busy in their nesting habits. I am ready to go to bed, I have seen too much in a single day!
What a fantastic day, so amazing that I am exhausted of the many sightings, wonderful weather and snorkeling experience. Early in the morning, while we circumnavigated Roca Redonda, we encountered a flock of sea birds feeding, due to the rich up-welling in this area; you could tell we were on the western side of the Archipelago where anything can happen. Later on, before crossing the Equator line, we spotted a sperm whale. Then we enjoyed the view of Ecuador Volcano and right afterwards, while we explored the area by Zodiac, we found a large pod of Melon-headed Whales. The whales came back later in the morning, at about the time our snorkelers were getting ready to jump in. But they were fast, and elusive, a behaviour that characterises this species. This was quite a rare sighting. They were in a group of more than a hundred. We could clearly see the absence of a beak and a profile of the top of a head smoothly curved downward, and their very dark skin.
During lunch time, while we were weighing anchor to reposition the Polaris toward Fernandina, a small pod of Orcas showed up. It was one sighting after the other! Orcas were feeding in the area, probably taking Mola mola, as there were dozens of them everywhere we looked. Frigate birds, storm petrels, shearwaters, took advantage of the left overs and flew above the Orcas, so they made it easier to follow the whales from the ship.
Fernandina was outstanding, with cormorants, penguins, sea lions and dozens of marine iguanas all over, busy in their nesting habits. I am ready to go to bed, I have seen too much in a single day!
